The mystic and graceful Ganesha idol or rather ‘Ganpati Bappa’ as how the Supreme Being is popularly called, owes its uniqueness to the land of India. The art of sculpting an idol of Lord Ganesha, who is worshiped greatly by the people, has been passed on from generations. With the festival doing its rounds in the months of August-September, every home in the south-west part of India greatly believes in bringing home a specially carved miniature version of the idol that is then revered with pomp and glory.
The idol
Crafted with elegance, the Ganesha idol by itself can be termed as a human marvel. The idol possesses the body of a human being on which the head of an elephant poses majestically. This undoubtedly is an epitome of devotion that builds faith and belief in the minds of people who believe in worshiping the deity.
The process of idol making
Pen, a village in Maharashtra, specializes in the idol making and has skilled artisans that have carried this secret over generations. There are sculptors whose primary occupation lies in making idols all year round. Special clay that can be molded easily is collected from fertile areas mostly found in West Bengal. The powdered clay is made into dough by adding water to it. This forms a molded mass which is separated into four parts comprising the body, head, hands and legs.
The idol is carved from this molded clay and refined further with the help of sculpting tools. Each part is separately made and later joined. The idol is then left to dry, after which it will be painted with natural paints like multani mitti (a type of sand) and turmeric. The last part of the process involves embellishing the idol and painting of the eye which only skilled artists can do. The idols are then left in the sun for drying, making them soft.
The tradition behind Ganesha idols
Farmers used to bring a mass of molded clay home one day in a year and the tradition of worshiping sand belonging to the fertile land that is very essential for survival was followed. This tradition later got modified and the art of making an idol from mold was later discovered. This widely came to being accepted as Ganpati Bappa.
The Ganesha festival is a grand festival which on ending, marks the immersion of the idol in water with chants of “pudcha varshi laukar ya”. This is a respectful way of bidding good bye and inviting the Lord home early again, the coming year. The clay and chemicals used in making idols are eco-friendly and easily soluble in water.
